Last week, we provided our own game-by-game predictions for the Detroit Lions’ 2026 schedule
. But let’s turn that idea on its head. Instead, let’s see how the Lions’ 2026 opponents see how Detroit’s season will play out.For this exercise, I tallied the game-by-game prediction from SB Nation sites of Detroit’s 2026 opponents*. In those articles, I pulled the prediction from their game against the Lions, and counted it as either a win or loss depending on the prediction. From there, I built out Detroit’s entire
schedule based on the predictions of each of their 17 opponents.
Admittedly, this story idea was blatantly stolen from our friends at Bleeding Green Nation (with Brandon Lee Gowton’s blessing, of course), because I think it’s a fun way to look at our own biases and the biases of our opponents.
*If the corresponding SB Nation site did not have game-by-game predictions, I used the first game-by-game predictions I could find from a different source.
Week 1 vs. Saints
[Saints] LOSS
Lions record: 1-0
Week 2 at Bills
Another thing I really dislike is picking the Lions to lose — at least in any game where they don’t play the Bills. Detroit is also finally a good football team, but one that tends to play a chaotic brand of football similar to Buffalo.
I see the Bills winning their home opener for obvious reasons. Some things are bigger than head-to-head roster analysis. Things like the first game in a new stadium featuring the best fan base in all of sports roaring at the cameras of Thursday Night Football. It’s a primetime stage that favors Josh Allen, and I see him rising to the occasion once again here in the first matchup of a three-game home stand to break in the new place.
Lions record: 1-1
Week 3 vs. Jets
This team is talented on both sides of the ball and will give the Jets team fits. Last year, Detroit was the highest scoring team at home, averaging 32.5 points per game. Despite the additions the Jets made on defense, the Lions are a machine at Ford Field. The Lions will score points in bunches, especially if Smith and the offense can’t put together scoring drives. Now, that’s not to say the Jets’ offense won’t have its good moments, but after a tough game against Green Bay, Detroit will walk away victorious.
Lions 34, Jets 17
Lions record: 2-1
Week 4 at Panthers
The Lions still have an elite offense with insanely explosive potential. They do have a new offensive coordinator, who has said he’d like to get back to a run-heavy style of play. The defense is a big question mark heading into the season. Anzalone was a big loss in free agency, Branch may or may not return this year, and Kerby Joseph has a lingering knee issue. Aidan Hutchinson leads the defense, and former Panther DJ Wonnum will be relied on for consistent pass rush opposite him. This is still a very steep hill for the Panthers to climb, riotous home crowd notwithstanding.
Final: Lions 27 – Panthers 23
Note: A separate Cat Scratch Reader writer picked Carolina to win, so we’re playing out both scenarios.
Lions record: 3-1 or 2-2
Week 5 at Cardinals
[Cardinals] Loss
The Lions are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025, and the Cardinals early is a nice gift towards that.
Lions record: 4-1 or 3-2
Week 7 vs. Packers
Ford Field has been a tough place to play for Green Bay, but it has won two of the last three games in Detroit. The Lions should be out for revenge as they were swept by the Packers last season. That went a long way toward the Lions staying at home when the postseason began.
With the bill coming due for some of their stars who are playing on rookie contracts, urgency should be at an all-time high in Detroit. That urgency – and a huge scheduling advantage – will show up as the Lions hold serve on their home field.
Prediction: Lions 27, Packers 24
Lions record: 5-1 or 4-2
Week 8 vs. Vikings
Note: I was going to use Vikings on SI’s predictions, but they inaccurately said Minnesota has their bye week heading into this game and used that as justification for a win here. For what it’s worth, they had the Vikings sweeping the Lions, while Vikings Wire has the Lions sweeping the Vikings.
[Vikings] Loss
Lions record: 6-1 or 5-2
Week 9 at Dolphins
Second quarter: 1-3 (Win over Patriots, losses to Jets, Lions, and Colts)
Lions record: 7-1 or 6-2
Week 10 vs. Patriots (in Munich)
The Patriots avoid a true road environment at a noisy Ford Field as they head to Germany, where a strong New England crowd is expected. Slowing down Jahmyr Gibbs, however, is no easy task on any field, but the Patriots do enough defensively to give Drake Maye the opportunity to secure New England’s first win as a franchise in Germany. | Prediction: [Patriots] Win
Lions record: 7-2 or 6-3
Week 11 vs. Buccaneers
Going into Detroit is always a dog fight and these two teams have gotten to know each other very well, facing off four times in the last three seasons including a playoff game. Unfortunately for the Bucs though, they are 1-3 in those four contests. I’m not sure I see that changing this year. Prediction: Bucs lose
Lions record: 8-2 or 7-3
Week 12 vs. Bears (Thanksgiving)
Windy City Gridiron (via the 2nd City Gridiron podcast)
Bears win
Lions record: 8-3 or 7-4
Week 13 at Falcons
[Falcons] Loss.
The Lions should also rebound, and they’re just a scary team. Atlanta hasn’t seen them since 2023, when they lost 20-6, but Detroit remains a squad with a balanced offense, a talented defense, and a quality coaching staff that should get an upgrade with Drew Petzing taking over for a struggling John Morton at offensive coordinator. I can see a game Falcons team making this close, but I’m not sure I can see the Falcons winning it without a hugely impressive early season run and perhaps some major Detroit injuries.
Lions record: 9-3 or 8-4
Week 14 vs. Titans
As I just mentioned, this is a brutal part of the schedule. The Titans could very easily enter the Week 14 matchup in Detroit on a four-game losing streak. Unfortunately, the Lions aren’t the team you want to be playing while on a long losing streak.
The Lions are going to be out for blood after missing the postseason in 2025. I expect the offense to have too much for the Titans, and Detroit will win this one relatively easily.
Prediction: Lions 31, Titans 17
Lions record: 10-3 or 9-4
Week 15 at Vikings
[Vikings] Loss
Lions record: 11-3 or 10-4
Week 16 vs. Giants (MNF)
The schedule makers did the Giants a favor by giving them the 49ers, Seahawks, and Lions in December. Those are all mature teams and attrition could wear them down by this point. The Giants never trailed in regulation against the Lions last year, and that was without Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, and Cam Skattebo. I’m expecting the Giants to win one of these December games as an underdog, and this one might be the most likely.
Pick: Giants
Lions record: 11-4 or 10-5
Week 17 at Bears
Windy City Gridiron (via the 2nd City Gridiron podcast)
Bears lose
Lions record: 11-5 or 10-6
Week 18 at Packers
Whether this game matters or not at the end of the season, we’ve seen both approaches play out in real time. Last year, the Packers sat almost anyone of substance in a meaningless regular-season game. The Lions played their starters in a game that did not matter to them and knocked off the Bears to close their regular season.
In this case, the Lions could take that approach again, while the Packers could be looking forward to the first week of the playoffs, or a date on a beach in Cancun. The Lions would certainly relish a chance to knock the Packers out of the playoffs and presumably boost their own chances in the process.
Lions 27, Packers 23
Lions record: 12-5 or 11-6
So even those who cover the Lions’ opponents see this as being a double-digit win season for Detroit. And their predictions aren’t all that different from our own.
